Honda S660 Ruled Out…But Brio BR-V A Chance

If you’re a betting person, Honda Australia will give you shorter odds on Jenson Button winning this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park than on theS660 sports car being launched locally.

Yep, the pocket-rocket mid-engined roadster has all but been virtually ruled-out for us according to Honda Australia Director Stephen Collins.

Speaking with TMR at today’s Melbourne unveiling of the all-new Honda Civic sedan, Mr Collins said: “We haven’t run-up the white flag yet but the S660 is not currently part of our discussions with Japan.”

It seems massive demand in Japan is stretching plant capacity to the limit so for the immediate future a line has been drawn through any export plans for the Honda S660.

A derivative of the Indian market Honda Brio hatchback, the BR-V is a micro SUV originally developed for ‘emerging’ markets, but Honda Australia has it firmly on the radar.

Expect the production version of the Honda Brio BR-V to launch in India in May.

While only marginally smaller than the well-equipped Honda HR-V, and powered by the same 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine, the Brio BR-V targets a market segment which Honda reckons could be about to take-off significantly.

“We’re definitely looking at the BR-V because the light/compact SUV segment may be an area of significant growth,” Mr Collins revealed.